The embargo has been in place for over 40 years. It's kept in place largely to appease the Cuban immigrant community.

* I believe that the embargo has been placed for many other reasons than just to appease the Cuban immigrant community.

The embargo doesn't make sense in large part because other nations are ignoring it and have been for a long time.

* True, of course, but what have the Cubans... in Cuba gained from that foreign relationship?

Years ago, I read that when Castro falls, communism in Cuba will likely fall, too. This may be optimistic because a lot of people owe their station in life to continuing the existing system.

* True, but....

If communism is Cuba is more than a cult of personality, then it might survive for many years after Castro.

* Not if the Cubans finally receive the liberty to better themselves... as individuals and ultimately as a whole.

If communism ends in Cuba, a large number of the immigrant community will want to return to their homeland.

* This is a myth.

The idea of studying a peaceful transfer is reasonable. Many people will want to reclaim old properties that they abandoned when they fled the country.

* Definitely a myth. What's lost is lost. The Cuban exile community, not just those in Miami mind you, would love to see a once-and-for-all, free and liberated Cuba.

In the meantime, those properties are being occupied by other people. Things could get ugly in a hurry.

* No, the worse that may happen is a short-lived civil war. Which is another reason why Castro has remained in power for so long. That may very well be a myth as well.